Switch control



J. L. ARTHUR' SWITCH' CONTROL April 8, 1930.

Filed Dec. 29, 1928 Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES. PATENT orrice' In L. ARTHUR, OI ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T D'ELCO-REMY CORPORA- 'IION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE I swrrcn common This invention relates to electric switches and particularly to a switch adapted for use in connection with ignition apparatus disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 198,682 filed June 13, 1927, in which the apparatus comprises'an ignition coil havin two primary windings which are connecte by a suitable switch either in parallel with a storage battery or other current source or in series therewith.

This apparatus can be used advantageously in the electrical system of an automobile in which a storage battery, charged by a generator driven by the automobile engine, is used to supply current during the cranking of the engine to the ignition apparatus, and genorally to the starting apparatus where an electric starter is used.

In cases where the battery is partly dise charged or the starting apparatus considerably drains the battery, thus reducing its voltage substantially below normal, suflicient ignition coilenergy can be obtained for ignition purposes while cranking if the ignition primary windings are connected in parallel with the battery in order to reduce the total resistance of the ignition primary-circuit.

Where ignition current is supplied by a generator at normal voltage during the running of the engine, the primary windings should be connected in series in order to increase the resistance of the primary circuit and prevent an abnormal flow of current through the ignition coil while the engine is running. Therefore, the switch which controls the ignition circuit is supplemented by a second switch connected to the windings and that has a start position in which the primary windings are connected in parallel, and a run osition in which the windings are connected in series with the battery.

One of the objects of the present invention is to. provide an improved switch for controlling the ignition apparatus of the application referred -to. More particularly it is an ing motor or switch is released. This feature provides for automatically reducing the current in the primary circuit of the ignition system and relieves the operator of the necessity to return the shifting switch to run 0- sition after the engine becomes self operative, otherwise, the contact points of the ignition circuit breaker are likely to become oxidized.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of one form-of the present invention is clearly shown.

' In the, drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of an assembly including my invention. 7

Fig. .2 is a fragmentary view of an ignition coil showing in section an adaptation of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a detail of a part of my invention, being a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram illustrating the use of the present invention. A

Fig. 5 is a detail showing of certain parts of 'Fig. 4, in shifted position.

With particular reference to the drawings the ignition apparatus with which the present device is articularly adapted to be used, will first be escribed with reference to Fig. 4. The ignition coil has two primary windings 20 and 21 which are inductivel elated to a secondary winding 22. Winding 20 is connected by wire 23 with a switch contact 24 and by wire 25 with a terminal 26 which is connected with an ignition timer 27 grounded at 28. The winding 20 is also connected by wire 29 with a switch contact 30. The winding 21 is connected by a Wire 31 with a switch contact 32 and by a wire 33 with a contact 34, and also with a terminal 36 to which one end of the secondary 22-is connected by wire 35. Terminal 36 is connected with a battery 37 grounded at 38. The other end of the secondary 22- is connected with an ignition distributor 39.

The switch includes movable contacts 40 and 41, which are shown in detail in Figs. 2

and 3, and when moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, known as the start position of the switch or the position occupied by it during the cranking of the engine, the primary windings 20 and 21 will be connected in parallel with the battery. The arrows 42 designate the direction of the current flow so that these parallel circuits may be clearly apparent. After the engine has become self-operative, the switch is automatically moved to the run position to move the contacts and 41 into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Then the switch connects the primary windings 20 and 21 in series with the battery to increase the resistance of the primary circuit and to reduce the current therein to normal value. The series connection of the windings 20 and 21 is clearly indicated by the arrows 43 in Figs. 4 and 5. It will be noted that the connections are so made that the coils 20 and 21 also act cumulatively regardless of how they are connected with the battery.

The battery lead 44 from the terminal 36, includes an ignition switch of any preferredform but usually embodies one of the lock type. A starting motor circuit 45 is a connected to the electric source 37, in parallel relation to the ignition circuit just described, and includes a starting switch 46, connecting the electric source 37 with the starting motor 47, which may be grounded at 48.

As shown structurally in Fig. 2, the coils 20, 21 and 22, the ends ofwhich are supported by non-conducting bodies located centrally within a metal case 53, have their associated contacts 24, 30, 32 and 34 moldably secured within the terminal supporting member 55. One of the bodies as 52 is embedded in insulating compound within the case 53, this compound having been poured while molten into the case before the member of insulating material is inserted within the case 53. The member 52 includes a cable-receiving sleeve and insulatingly, supports the terminals 26 and 36. The sleeve comprises a metal lining electrically connected by a pin with the core upon which the inside turn of the secondary 22 is grounded by a lead, all of which appears in my application referred to above.

Theswitch for controlling the circuits of the ignition coil is housed within a case provided by the case cover 55 which forms the base of the switch and a tubular extension 53 of the case. The base 55 is secured to the sleeve member 54, having one edge thereof provided with the tongues 71 which are bent against the frame 7 O, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The frame member 70 is provided with attaching ears 72 acting as a means to support the coil assembly 50 upon some part of the vehicle body structure 73, here representing the floor board of the cab. The attachment may be accomplished by any desired means as the supporting bracket 74 fixed to the floor boards and standing uprightly to support the assembly 50 in the desired position. The member 70 provides a support and guide member for the shifting switch, and is formed with the upstruck ears 75, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, to form a guide way for the movable contact carrier 76.

The movable contact member 76 comprises a substantially rectangular block of moldableinsulating material, and has one face thereof provided with the recesses 78, and the wells 79, which cooperate to retain and to resilient support the contact members 40 and 41 hereinbefore referred to. The contact members 40 and 41 are practically identical in structure, and are substantially of U formation roviding the seating lugs 80 at each of-the ridge members 81. The bridge portion 81 is embossed as at 82 to provide substantially semi-spherical contact points on one side of the member and with the depressions 83 on the reverse side. The contact members 40 and 41 are so designed that the In s 80 will be freely received in the recesses members 76 and be capable of movement therein, and so that the depressions 83 will lie substantially over the wells 79. A compression spring 84 is placed in the well so as to seat within the depressions 83 and tend to urge the contacts away from the supporting block 76.

It will be noted upon reference to Fig. 2 that the coil case 53, head. member 55, and bracket member 7 O, define a chamber 90 providing a switch housing. In this switch housing is disposed the movable contact carryingcontacts 40 and 41 from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 to that position diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4, and include the recess 91 in one end of the member 76,'f0r the 8 of the reception "of the angular extension 92 of the Bowden wire93, whichwire leads to some operative part of the starting mechanism hereinillustrated as the switch actuator 94. The members 53 and 54 of the coil structure are provided with aligned apertures 95 which open into .the chamber 90 in position for the passage of the Bowden wire v92; Substantiah ly covering the aperture'95 and firmly fixed to the member 54, is provided the spring cup 96 having a. central aperture forming a swivel connection with the flared end 97 of a Bowden wire tube 98. The'aperture 95 and the in terior of the cup 96are of suflicient sizeto house a compression spring 99 which encircles the Bowden wire 93 and. is seated in a recess 100 in the. end of the member 76, and Y which spring normally maintains the switch contacts in the relation as illustrated in The operation of this device is apparent from the consideration of Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing .and it is obvious that the depres sion of the starting-pedal 1.01, in its course to, close the circuit of: the starting-'switch46,

will move the-switch actuator 94, and thereby pullupon the Bowden wire 93 against the spring 99, to move-the contact carrier- 76 from the run, position as appears inFig. 2, to the start position diagrammatically. shown in-.Fig. 4.; As'soonas the motor becomes self operative, onas soon as the starter operating member .101-is released the Bowden wire 93 is also released, which permits a pedal return spring 102 and the spring 99 to return the contact carrier 76 to the,run position illustrated in Fig. 2. I

The contacts of the coil changingiswitch are kept bright and in an efiicientoperatin condition and good electrical contact isai ways insured by providing the coil contacts 24, 30, 32 and 34: with the depressed surfaces 49 for the reception of the contact points 82, of the members 40 and 41. The springs 82, resiliently supportingthe contacts 40 and 41 in their seating engagement with the carrier 76, are continually urging the contacts 40 and 41 against the terminal supporting member and therefore insure that. the spherical embossments 82 of the contacts will fall into the depressions49 of the coil terminals when the contacts areproperly aligned therewith as by means ofthe Bowden" wire 93- and the returnspring 99. This means of carrying the contact members 40 and 41 provide floating contact members which ride over the higher portions of the terminal plate 55, between the coil contacts which it carries. Where it is so desired the member 55 may be provided with a dummy contact depression 105, for cooperative seating of the contact member 41, when the coil changing switch is in the run position as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. I

By reference to Figs. 2, 4 and.5 it willbe noted that the coil contacts 24, 30,32 a l are so placed in the terminal member that the contact members 40 and such dimensions relatively, that one of the contact members 4d), and wi cooperate with the coil contacts to one or the other of the relations of windings. Thus in the run position, hmember 40 cooperates with. coil contact and 32 to establish the series relation primary windings, while in the star pc. tion, the member 40 cooperates with the 5 contacts 24' and 32, and the member i operates with thecoil contacts 30 ant connect the primary windings in par, lation.

lV-hile the form ofembodiment of ent invention as herein'disclos i, a preferred form, it is to beui'idc other forms might be adbnted', within the scope of the claims wh.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In an electrical system for use ternal combustion engines, the cor with, a source of electric current starting means energized thereby, o tion circuitalso'energized from sa d soi and automatic means for decreasing malresistance of said ignition circuit cidentally with the energization of ca gine starting means, comprising a secticna divisiblevprimar-y coil, and means for tuting the cnergizat'ion of the engine st means, andoperable to change the re of said primary coil sections.

2-111 an electrical system for use with i ternal combustion engines, the combinat with, a source of electric currentand eng e starting means energized thereby, of an ignition circuit also energized i i" said and automatic means for decreasing mal resistance of said ignition circuit coincidentally with the energization of said gine starting means, comprising av sections 1y divisible primary coil, amultiile circun switch interposed between the coil and means for instituting the one of the engine starting means, ant. i .i to change the relation of said primary con; sections.

3. In an electrical system for use with in ternal combustion engines, the coinhinatio with, a. source of electric current; an' starting means energized thereby. oi. tion circuit also energized fromsaid source and automatic means for decreasing the mal resistance of said ignition circui' cidentally with the energization oi gine starting means, comprising a sectly divisible primary coil, a multiple circu: switch interposed between the coil and. means for instituting the energir of the-engine starting means, and opera c. upon said switch to change the reiation oi said coil sections. i

Lilli?- engines,

shaft at starting, ail-energy source connected 4. In an electrical system for use with in- :ternal combustion engines, the combination with a source of electric current and engine starting means energized thereby, of an ignition circuit also energized from said source and automatiomeans for decreasing the normal resistance of said ignition circuit coincidentally with the energiz'ation of said engine starting means, comprising, a sectionally divisible coil in said circuit, a multiple circuit switch interposed between said coil sections, and means for instituting the energization of the engine starting means, and operable upon said switch to change the relation of said coil sections.

5. In an electrical system for use with internal combustion engines, the combination with a source of electric current and engine starting means energized thereby, of an ignition circuit also energized from said source and automatic means for decreasing the normal resistance of said ignition circuit coincidentally with the energization of said engine starting means, comprising, a/sectionally divisible coil in said circuit, a multiple circuit switch interposed between said coil sections, and means for instituting the energization of the engine starting means and operable upon the switch to alter the relation of said coil sections.

6. Ignition apparatus for internal com bustion engines comprising, a current source, an ignition circuit including a coil having a plurality of primary windings, a switch for connecting the windingsin parallel for engine starting ignition and in series for engine running ignition, and means for automatically operating the switch during the starting operation.

7 Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, a current source, an ignition circuit including a coil havin a plurality of primary windings, a switch or con necting the windings, in parallel for engine starting ignition and in series for engine running ignition, and means operable upon the switch for changing the relation of the windings, consequential to engine starting and engine running ignition. j 8. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, a current source, an ignition circuit including a coil havin a plurality of rimary windings, a switch or connecting the windings, in parallel for engine starting ignition and in series for engine running ignition, and means operable upon the switch for automatically insuring a parallel relation of said windings during engine starting and a series relation during engine run ning.

9. In a starting and ignition'system for gas a motor for revolving the engine to said motor, an ignition coil comprising two primary windings connectible to sald source in either series or parallel relation, a starting switch for the motor circuit, a multiple circuit switch for the ignition circuit, interposed between the primary windings, and

means acting automatically in accordance with the operation of the starting switch for altering the relation of the coil windings.

. 10..In a starting and ignition system for gas engines, a motor for revolving the engine shaft at starting, an 'energy source connected to said motor, an ignition coil comprising two primary windings connectible to said source in either series or parallel relation, a starting switch for the motor circuit, a multiple circuit switch for the ignition circuit, interposed between the primary windings, and means connecting the starting switch operative with the multiple circuit switch for altering the relation of the coil windings upon manipulation of the starting switch. I

11. In a starting and ignition system for gine shaft at starting, an energy source connected to said motor, an ignition COll comprising two primary windings connectible to I said source in either series .or parallel relation, a starting switch for the motor circuit, a multiple circuit switch for the ignition circuit, interposed between the primary windings, and capable of connecting the primary windings in either series of parallel relation, and means connecting the starting switch operative "with the multiple circuit switch for altering the relation of the coil windings upon manipulation of the starting switch.

12; In a starting and ignition system for gas engines, a motor forrevolving the engine shaft at startlng, an energy source connected gas engines, a motor for revolving the. en--- starting switch for the motor circuit, and,

means r automatically controlling the relation of coil sections, during starting and running of the engine, comprising a multiple circuit switch interposed between and connected 'to the primary windings, and means connecting the interposed switch with the operative of the starting switch, to be operable simultaneously therewith.

14. In a starting and ignition system for gas engines, a motor for revolving the engine shaft at starting, an energy source connected to said motor, an ignition coil comprising two primary windings connectible to said source in either series or parallel relation, a starting switch for the motor circuit, and means for automatically controlling the relation of coil sections during starting and run ning of the engine, comprising, a multiple circuit switch connected to the primary windings, and capable of establishing either relation of the windings, and means connecting the multiple circuit switch with the operative of the starting switch, to be operable simultaneously therewith.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 13, in which the means connecting the interposed switch and the operation of the starting switch includes a Bowden wire.

16. The apparatus defined by claim it, in which the parallel relation of the primary windings is automatically established upon closing of the starting motor circuit and the series relation is automatically established upon the opening of said circuit.

17. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, a current source, an ignition circuit including a coil having a plurality of primary windings, a switch for connecting the windings in parallel for engine starting ignition and in series for engine running ignition, and means for autoall matically operating the switch during the starting operation, including a Bowden wire connection between the said switch and an operative of the engine starting mechanism.

18. An ignition coil having a divisible primary winding, both sections of which. are used in starting ignition and running ignition of said engine, a cranking motor and energized circuit for starting said engine, means for altering the relation of the sections ofithe said primary winding relative to the circuit of which they are included, and means to correlate the altering of said winding sections with the closure of said cranln ing motor circuit.

19. In an electrical system for usewith in ternal combustion engines," the combinaticn" with a. source of electric current 'and engine starting means energized thereby, of an ignition circuit also energized from said source, said ignition circuit including an ignition coil having a sectionally divisible primary winding, said sectional winding being connected in series for running ignition and operable for parallel connectionduring start-- ing ignition, means for altering the relation of said sectional windings from series to par allel relation coincident with the energization of said engine starting means.

20. Ignition apparatus for internal com-- bustion engines comprising, a. current source, an ignition circuit including a coil having a plurality primary windings, means for connecting each of said windings in parallel. with the other or others, for engine starting ignition, and connecting each. at said windings in series with the other others engine running ignition, and means correlau ing the windings, connecting means with the,

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